Annabel Crabb

University students – who should be the most connected, educated, cutting-edge communicators in our country – are still protesting like it's 1969. Photo: Anthony Johnson

The last few decades have turned our world upside down. The end of the Cold War changed politics. The advent of the internet has deluged us with a mighty, confusing, exhilarating torrent of information, bringing with it previously unimaginable ways for human beings to come together, to talk, argue, share knitting tips and to deliver to vast audiences a tiny but resonant truth about something happening in their own backyards.

How, then, can it possibly be that student protests have not changed even one little bit over that time? And how can it be, as even our phones gets smarter, that protesters are somehow getting dumber?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing there is nothing to protest against in the budget, nor that university students should not take every opportunity to explain what the full deregulation of tertiary fees in Australia will mean for parents and children.

I'm just wondering why university students – who should be the most connected, educated, cutting-edge communicators in our country – are still protesting like it's 1969.

Advertisement

I think that's probably about the year when the chant "No cuts! No fees! No corporate universities!" was invented, along with its idiot twin "Hey hey! Ho ho! (Insert minister's name) has got to go!".

The student invasion of Q&A a few weeks ago, in which a gaggle of Socialist Alternative protesters chanted protractedly at Christopher Pyne while trying unsuccessfully to unfurl a bedsheet on which they had daubed slogans, would have been entirely unremarkable had it been deployed against John Gorton.

Are poster paint and your parents' third-best manchester really the best tools the modern environment offers? And has any strategic thought gone into this stuff? I mean, one doesn't like to teach protesters how to suck eggs, but anyone who has ever observed Christopher Pyne for more than about 60 seconds would know that creating a vast fuss and drama in which Mr Pyne becomes the centre of attention on national television is not something he actually hates all that much.

Last week, Julie Bishop was jostled and shouted at as she made her way into a lecture hall to speak on the government's new Colombo plan. Same slogans, same daft shoving, as the Foreign Affairs Minister arrived to announce the one bit of the budget that actually involves more money for the university sector. It looked dreadful and was a complete logical non-sequitur to boot.

Or what about Sophie Mirabella, whose lecture at Melbourne University was pitch-invaded by protesters shouting about budget cuts and calling Mirabella a "racist" who "didn't deserve to exist". Eh? This is the same Sophie Mirabella who lost her seat at the last election, yes? The second-generation Greek immigrant who used to get called a "wog" at school?

Now, the right to protest in a democratic system is a very important one. And this is the most radical budget in years, so of course there will be protests; this was immediately clear the morning after, when the Prime Minister was nan-handled on Channel Ten by a pensioner and former Rudd supporter angry about the changes to the pension.

But in this magical new era of communication, there must be better ways of telling a story than "What Do We Want? No Fees! When Do We Want It? Now!". And if universities really are centres of innovation, then the best way to make that point is to be innovative, surely. To paint a picture of what universities would look like if these changes get by the Senate. To explain what goes on in a young person's mind when deciding whether to go to university, and illustrate how the prospect of a commercial-grade debt might have a different effect on a poor student than on a wealthy one. The previous government's policy of uncapping university places means we have more communications, media and film students than ever before. Why not put them to work?

Back when Tony Abbott was a student, he was an enthusiastic protester. He got a lot of attention and coverage. And he did it by creating a counterpoint; during the post-Dismissal marches, he captured attention by leading a small but vocal demonstration in defence of Sir John Kerr. At Oxford, six days after the sinking of the General Belgrano, he turned up to a campus anti-war protest with a bunch of buddies to march in defence of Margaret Thatcher.

Obviously, there are some significant differences between the young Mr Abbott and the students of the Socialist Alternative. Mr Abbott demonstrated against a prime minister who was trying to give him a free education. Today's students demonstrate against Mr Abbott in a landscape where free education is a thing of the past, with the awkward exception of Mr Abbott's youngest daughter.

They accuse him of extreme conservatism. But if conservatism is the stubborn refusal to evolve, then fighting a war of ideas with Soviet-era artillery strays awfully close to the mark.

39 comments

Thank you, AC.As an ‘Age of Aquarius’ survivor, I feel entitled (we Baby Boomers are the most entitled) to give some gratuitous advice for these students – lift your game, you motley crew. Back in our golden era of self-importance, righteous anger and indignation - we were outraged by the behaviour of our political leaders. We had the answer to the world’s problems – and so much more: A ‘cause celebre’ – the Vietnam War and Conscription (a lottery based on your date of birth);A unique form of public assembly - Moratorium marches;An iconic chant – “1-2-3-4 – we don’t want your f…king war” (now, that had real style);Warm terms of endearment from the general public – “ah ya bloody hippies, ferals and ratbags”;A city that epitomised our cultural and intellectual aspirations – Nimbin; A plant with ambrosian qualities that brought peace and tranquillity of mind – “far out man”;Particular tunes for our times – ‘Let the Sunshine In’ and “Give Peace a Chance”;An outfit ‘de rigueur’ (for all independent thinkers) – headband, tie dyed clothing, bell-bottom and patched jeans, leather sandals, the obligatory peace symbol and a flower to carry;Our own anti-establishment film star – Jane Fonda (who, in later life, married a billionaire, made exercise videos and found God – as you do).So, you young rabble – on whose shoulders the future of the world rests - you have much to do with your protesting, and so little time in which to do it.Don’t waste a moment, because - before you know it - you will be mugged by the accumulating and competing demands of time and life more broadly – and forget what it is like to be young.

Commenter

Howe Synnott

Location

Sydney

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 3:05PM

Good one Howe, how absolutely gutless of Pyne and Aboat to chicken out with students. Big tough men like their kind selves shouldn't be afraid of a few spirited youths.I say go for it, they have my total endorsement to protest against the punitive Budget and this horrid regime. So often they are accused of being the Me, Me Gen.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 4:23PM

I would have thought that after the Vietnam War, the Liberal Party and the Democratic Labor Party would have kept their stupid heads well down forever. Yet here they are again as large as life doing their usual total disregard for the democratic rights of others. It is to my everlasting shame that because I had a security clearance in the 60s I did not join in the anti-war protests, even though my friend was the first Australian soldier killed in 'Nam. I feel as though I should go along to the university and teach the kids how to stage a full scale riot. How did we end up with a DLP lying moron as PM ? - APPALLING ! !

Commenter

adam

Location

yarrawonga

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 4:51PM

As a 'Digital age' youth, I feel entitled (We gen Y are apparently even more so) to thank you for your advice, but let me just say; there is more to us than you give credit.In todays modern age of instant gratification we feel outraged by our political leaders. We don't have all the answers, but we know a corrupt, ideologically driven mob when we see it.A 'Casus Belli' - the attack on our education and standards of living;A new form of assembly, facebook groups and tumblr pages (And despite Ms Crabbs article, we do utilize these tools);An iconic rally - "Bulls**t! Come off it! Our education is not for profit!" (At least we aren't so desperate for a rhyme we count to four...);Friendly labels by well wishers - "Hipsters! Keyboard warriors! NEETS!";An electorate that reflects what we stand for - Melbourne;A liquid essence that brings people together - The absurdly taxed alcopops;Songs that we will remember far into our winter years - But you probably don't know them;Our own war fatigues - Skinny jeans and converse sneakers, scarfs and fingerless gloves, and for a few of us even a pink felt triangle to pick up where past generations let us down.And even a cult of celebrity around the anarchists and socialists who have struck fame - Oh Michael Moore, you wonderful man!So, you old nomads - who built this world that we live in - know that we have our own fight, and we use every second given to us.

Commenter

Peter

Location

Sydney

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 7:26PM

Peter, I think Howe's irony was lost on you. Particularly the Boomers entitlement drift.He's with you (that's how I read him anyway) just throwing in some nostalgia to boot.What is notable is the irony of timing and Aboat mentioning the DD words, the last one related to the very things we now hold dear- the legacies (although watered down) Free Ed and Health and a determined exercise in breaking the class system. Aboat and regime are intent on breaking the last of Gough's legacies. And that is why we should stand together against this regime, no matter what age or Gen we are.Some of us "oldies" don't own multiple properties or drive posh European cars, because some of us "oldies" didn't embrace the greed culture. We could've, but we chose not to.I'm placing my trust in you and your peers to stand up to these goons and show united strength in your convictions, for what is right and fair.I want my country back.

Commenter

A country gal

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 9:21PM

Its worth remembering that the purpose of the protest, from the leaders' point of view, is to engage students with the excitement of activism and "Socialist Alternative". They're not trying to change the budget, which is very helpful to them in their purpose.

Commenter

Bahm

Location

Gisborne

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 3:22PM

The fact that there has been so much coverage of the student protests and that the Government is already talking about watering down their policies demonstrates just how successful the student protests have been.

Commenter

Sam Cullen

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 3:30PM

Oh Yes! Yes! Yes! So sick of no ,no, no, no.In a world of buy now pay later the financial implications are enormous; unscrupulous marketeers selling families what they do not want. In our fast paced world selling the future of children as prisoners has become an option.In the sixties era the demonstrators were protesting against an unjust war whilst members of their families were prisoners of conscription by the conservatives. The current crop of walkers, who know walking is good for them, armed with their parents third best manchester, face a future as slaves of the corporate and institutional world.To live outside these worlds is becoming more marginalised. There is little or no room for an independent, free thinker not toeing the party line.The animal herding instinct is still strong even for lemmings going over a cliff.The virtual world, often denied to the marginalised, still have the shoulder to shoulder option as opposed to the shoulder of slaves to heavy lifting. March on, March on; although Anzac Day is reserved for the march of the pensioners!

Commenter

Koel

Location

Central Qld

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 3:36PM

These protests are so obviously intended to disrupt as opposed to changing policy. It is quasi-legalised thuggery with the goal of having a punch-up with the police and of the opportunity to claim "police brutality". Nothing more - nothing less.

Commenter

John

Location

Canberra

Date and time

May 25, 2014, 3:39PM

How is it thuggery, John? Give me a list of casualties, please. These protests may be outdated, even misguided, but your claim of 'thuggery' is hysterical nonsense. Personally, I'm glad that young people care enough to risk arrest for a cause they believe in.

Most Commented

Special offers

Hodson's daughter: Witness protection not safe

"I feel sorry for anyone coming into witness protection," says the tearful daughter of police informer Terence Hodson after the State Coroner delivered an open finding into his murder and that of his wife Christine in 2004.